Saturday, September 24, 2016

Parks & Rec. Commission Meeting Was Predictable

SMALL TURNOUT
Last Thursday night, September 22, 2016, the Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission met at City Hall before a sparse crowd while many more of us attended the CM4RG Town Hall.

UNREMARKABLE, EXCEPT FOR HARTLEY'S ABSENCE
The commission meeting, which I later viewed on my recording of the event, was not remarkable except it marks the first meeting since Maintenance Services Manager Bruce Hartley retired a week ago, and his absence showed.

RECREATION PRESENTATIONSKevin Stoddardt provided a summary of summer events at several city recreational venues and Yvette Aguilar gave us an overview of other events/programs - Bark Park improvement, Concerts in the Park, Senior Center and Community Gardens. Unfortunately, there was not staff report online to provide a reference tool, so you'll just have to wait for the streaming video to become available if you're interested.

PAYING HOMAGE TO HARTLEY
During Commissioner Comments Byron de Arakal, Vice Chair Bob Graham and Chairman Brett Eckles paid homage to Hartley, who has provided skill and knowledge to the management of his organization for many years. He CERTAINLY will be missed. It is rumored that he retired to join former Director of Public Services, Ernesto Munoz, in a private sector organization. We wish him well and thank him for his service.

TREE REMOVAL #1 DENIED
There were three tree removal requests on the agenda, each of which were denied. The first, a Brisbane Box, drops a lot of fruit which causes the adjacent property owner some difficulty, but the tree is healthy and the City is managing it and the nearby sidewalk appropriately, so the request was denied.

SAME WITH #2, QUICKLY
The second was a Canary Island Pine and the applicant failed to show up, so the request was summarily denied.

DITTO NUMBER 3
The third was the same species located in a community park near a neighboring home. The applicant said the droppings from the tree - sap, pine cones and leaves - are causing her problems. The staff has recently pruned the tree and, after viewing the photos, it's difficult to see how the problems are actually occurring. The request was denied.

VERNAL POOLS
The Parks Manager's Report was presented by Recreation Manager Justin Martin - Bart Mejia was absent. Following the presentation de Arakal asked the status of the proposed fencing of the Fairview Park Vernal Pools and asked that the commission receive a report on the proposed delineation.

MERCURIO SHOWS AND SPEAKS!
Oh, yes, Commissioner Julie Mercurio actually did speak at this meeting, so she earned her hundred bucks. Her contribution was negligible, but she was there and spoke.